The morning was supposed to be ordinary. Another day of meetings, another round of presentations about why Titan Construct Ltd. was the definition of strength and reliability. Durability, steel, concrete—those were the words my people loved to hear. But all I could think about while crossing the lobby was how desperately I needed a cigarette. Thirty-five minutes since my last one, and my nerves were beginning to itch. Coffee didn’t help; the bitter taste only reminded me I’d skipped breakfast again.

I stepped into the elevator, ready to zone out for the next sixty seconds. Fate, however, had other plans. The doors opened, and in walked my rival, director of SteelRise Corp. Modern designs, glass towers, the whole futuristic act—that’s her world. Mine? Outlasting everything with stone and steel. We’d been clashing over projects for months.

She didn’t notice me right away, too caught up in her own thoughts. No doubt already rehearsing another pitch to steal a contract I had my eyes on. When her gaze finally lifted and landed on me, the air between us thickened like wet cement. I let a sardonic smile play across my lips.

“Well, this is a marvelous start to the day,” I said, my tone dripping with silk-wrapped sarcasm.

Her jaw clenched. Beautiful. Better than my morning smoke.

And then, the elevator jolted, froze, and the lights flickered. The panel blinked in red: Malfunction. Please wait for assistance. Of course. Trapped. No smoke, no escape—just me and her.

I chuckled under my breath, pulled out a cigarette, and began twirling it between my fingers. A nervous habit, though I’d never admit it. I slid down to the floor, leaning back like the cabin was my office.

“Fantastic,” I drawled, watching her with lazy amusement. “Seems fate has granted us a bit of... quality time. Long enough, perhaps, to settle our construction disputes. Or start a few new ones.”